Sergi Canovas

Work experience

Aug 2009 - Sep 2009

Light & Shadow - Arabian Palace in Abu Dhabi

Interior Design for an arabian palace in Abu DahbiArchitects: Sergi Cànovas (Barcelona), Martín Diego Alvarez (Buenos Aires), Andrés Benalcázar (Colombia) i Alvaro Mendoza (Colombia)En col.laboració amb LANDCOM S.L.Software: Autocad 2009 + 3D Studio Max 2009 + V Ray + Photoshop CS4 + Ilustrator Light & shadowPeace for the senses“the hands want to see and the eyes want to caress”W. GoetheOur goal in this project is to achieve a peace-full and harmonic space, which can not only be seen, but felt and lived. Water, that can be heard and smelled; Textures that the the eye can touch; A carefully studied rhythm of light and shadow chains the way through from one space to another; Simplicity; wood and marble, Jealousies;...all these are elements which traditional architecture that shape a space, where peace is achieved through the recreation and relaxation of all five senses.

Education

Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura de BArcelona (ETSAB)

Portfolio

On the shadow side all walls are in bright colors and coatings are mainly glass or mirrors. Only the entrance door as well as the elevator doors are made of wood. The wall adjoning to the staircase is of a translucent glass with a printed pattern. In this way the staircase is used as a daylight source. The floor is made of crema-marfil marble, polished and rough arranged in a geometrical pattern. Columns are coated with marble-looking plaster. The false ceiling is hung only 5 cms, enough for the elecrical wiring. It is arranged forming 6 main boards, justified by the columns. On the center of each board. On the center of each board a design lamp made of translucent glass and copper forming a geometrical pattern, lightens indirectly the ceiling as well as directly the room. AC machinerry and conducts are hidden above 2,65m.heigh hung ceiling strip at the threshold and along both left and right side of the room. It is important to mention that the service entrance of the room is solved by a sliding door that connects the preparation rooms with the staircase.

Meeting Room 4

Meeting Room 4

Terrace

A place for calm an contemplation. No walls, no windows, only the views........

Light & Shadow

Hall 2

All doors are of wooden jealousies with an internal translucent glass to permit the light from inside the rooms to come through. However daylighting is achieved mainly by the central lantern as well as the windows. The combination of both light sources form the poetical light-shadow game of traditional architecture. The pattern, present at the doors continue as a molding that textures all around the walls. Electric lighting reinforces daylighting is formed by peripheral stripe above the walls that goes all the way around. At night the central space is lighted to repace the sunlight. The flamingo-like lamps are based on traditional copper-bored lamps, and give an ornamental touch for the lighting forming, patterns and reflexes at the water, ceiling and walls. It is important to mention that toilets and the storage rooms have been rearranged being accessed through a small lobby, which is connected to the main one by a jelaousie that faces directly the entrance of the dinning room, and forming the second visual axis, as in the view. A.C. is located above the hung ceiling of such lobbies and thresholds above the surrounding entrances doors. In this way the main lobby is kept out of AC machines, no hung ceiling is required maximizing the internal height

Meeting Room

With a rectangular form, two existing columns at the center divide the space, into 2, 3 or 6 minor spaces depending of the point of view. The project takes advantage of this fact, by opening windows at the side walls, permiting more daylight to enter, and forming two halves one light and one shadow side. Daylighting is controlled, even if coming from north, by the use of exterior shadow elements, and an interior wooden jalousie, that is parts of the window itself. A wooden bench is proposed as a continuation of the wooden jalousie-windows. All walls, and ellements in the lighten half are coated with wood. This emphasizes the contrast between light and shadow as in tradiotioanal architecture, giving a more solemn, peacefull and relaxing atmosphere.

Meeting Room 3

Meeting Room 5

Meeting Room 5

Hall

The main distribution space, is a rectangular concentric space. Daylight descends from a central double-space, enclosed by four ornamental columns, establishing the center around which all the circulations are to be done. A peripheral marble corridor leads to the 8 wooden-glassed doors and conduct to the different spaces of the palace. Simplicity and geometry. The space is also structured in two main visual axis, that intersect and confirm the center. The main axis, leads from the main door to the Major Majlis, across a wooden bridge-like flooring, formed of four different wood types which arranged on an ornamental geometrical pattern. forming three boards. The central board is more a place to be observed than to be used. It is surrounded by a water pool which bottom is covered of gold-colored tiles, which shine reflecting the light coming from the flamingo-like lamps that rise from the water surface. The movement of the water and the light echo on the marble can be heard.

Dinning Room

Corredor

Bedroom

Private rooms

Light & Shadow - Arabian Palace in Abu Dhabi

Arquitectes:Sergi Cànovas (Barcelona), Martín Diego Alvarez (Buenos Aires), Andrés Benalcázar (Colombia) i Alvaro Mendoza (Colombia) En col.laboració amb LANDCOM s.l. Software: Autocad 2009 + 3D Studio Max 2009 + V Ray + Photoshop CS4 + Ilustrator Light &amp; shadow Peace for the senses “the hands want to see and the eyes want to caress” W. Goethe Our goal in this project is to achieve a peace-full and harmonic space, which can not only be seen, but felt and lived. Water, that can be heard and smelled; Textures that the the eye can touch; A carefully studied rhythm of light and shadow chains the way through from one space to another; Simplicity; wood and marble, Jealousies;...all these are elements which traditional architecture that shape a space, where peace is achieved through the recreation and relaxation of all five senses.

Portfolio

Experimental project mixing extracts from Alan Watts "Conversation with Myself" with footage from Koyaanisqatsi. Music is taken from Nine Inch Nails Ghosts (track 9). Created by Sergi Cànovas [email protected]

Light & Shadow - Arabian Palace in Abu Dhabi

Light &amp; shadow
Peace for the senses
Arabian Palace Interiors
“the hands want to see and the eyes want to caress” W. Goethe